Scenario: If YOU had to a pick a dman at 6 which one?

[Bingo]

Not the Flames this time as I'm guessing that would become a pretty big guess.

So back to the individual. Assuming (which I know many of you won't) the Flames take a dman at 6th who would YOU want them to take?

[GranteedEV]

Sergachyev for me. Rocket of a shot, some scout described his defensive play as "stoic" in a good way (calm decision-maker under pressure), highest scoring among the OHL D, big body and can play mean, and a great skater. Basically everything CHychrun is supposed to be, but actually is that.

Pronman did say his hockey sense is questionable but I question that statement itself - because I think his hockey sense is pretty good. I think with some focused development time in Stockton (Like Kylington) he can end up with a massive ceiling.

Not interested in Juolevi. Extremely redundant in our system and IMO getting overhyped from playing on a stacked team in WJC and even London is stacked.

[zukes]

I'm a homer probably, but I would go with Joulevi. He really looks like Olli Maatta, the non hurt, make the Penguins out of nowhere Maatta, not the struggling one we see now. Maatta was also a Knight and his first season with the Knights looked a lot like Joulevi's did.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Sergachev is the best player on that list. Juolevi would be a defensible (lol pun) selection, though.

[VladtheImpaler]

Juolevi, based on the reports, sounds like a bigger Brodie...

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by zukes

I'm a homer probably

Well, your avatar is certainly fitting.

[Erick Estrada]

I don't know if I can vote as I don't think any of these guys project high enough to go at 6. Really are any of these guys considerably better than Rasmus Andersson who the Flames picked up 53 overall last season?

[Poe969]

Chychrun. He has all the tools and his toolbox isn't that bad, I think he'll learn and become a really good player (unless he goes to the oil). I thought I read somewhere that he even played some time at forward this past year too. I just think he has the makings of a really good player.

[dammage79]

Sergachev. Has the best all around toolbox and from what I have seen is the most aggressive in his play. Flames need a little more of that.

[Lanny_McDonald]

If I had to, I go with Juolevi. Best all around skill set IMO. Thinks the game the best and makes the best plays. Unfortunately I don't see him as being any better than Andersson in any aspect of his game. If it were me I'd trade down if someone wanted the pick. None of the defensemen look like anything more than 2nd pair guys in the long run. We should address other more pressing needs in this draft.

[djsFlames]

1, 2 or 4. Honestly don't know which is the best d-man available due to not following the D too closely this year. I just know Chychrun is the most hyped among scouts, but also the most controversial.

I like it better when the best choice is obvious. I don't like that a top 10 pick can feel like a roll of the die if we went in this direction as there doesn't seem to be a clear cut favourite.

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by New Era

If I had to, I go with Juolevi. Best all around skill set IMO. Thinks the game the best and makes the best plays. Unfortunately I don't see him as being any better than Andersson in any aspect of his game. If it were me I'd trade down if someone wanted the pick. None of the defensemen look like anything more than 2nd pair guys in the long run. We should address other more pressing needs in this draft.

It's funny reading three consecutive posts all selecting a different guy for the exact same reason - "he has all the tools" (Chychurn), "best all around toolbox" (Sergachev), and "all around skill set" (Juolevi). I think there's agreement we all want the best all-around player...but which guy is it?? Seems too close to call!

[jmac98]

I understand the point of the exercise is to choose one if you had to. But that's a hypothetical that just isn't a reality for anyone, and for Calgary it's not a position of need heading into the draft. The thread should almost be "who's the best D available in the draft", because really, that's all you're asking.

As it pertains to Calgary, they should go with a forward at 6, BPA based on who's on the board and/or however draft day pans out come there turn. In regards to a D, I think Calgary should target Sean Day should he be available organically at around the 3rd round where I think he's currently slotted, or, take a flier on him and use that late Dallas 2nd.

[albertGQ]

I honestly don't know but vited Chychrun since he has been ranked the highest defenseman for over a yaer now on most lists.

But I would like this to be like 2003, where our choice is made for us. So I would like to trade down. I want Nylander at 6 but wouldn't be opposed to trading it for 13 and 19. Then pick a combination of Jake Bean & Julien Gauthier/Kieffer Bellows

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't know if I can vote as I don't think any of these guys project high enough to go at 6. Really are any of these guys considerably better than Rasmus Andersson who the Flames picked up 53 overall last season?

So you think we got a top 10 pick last year in Andersson? I dunno about that. Andersson is a good prospect but it seems like either we're overrating him or underrating this defense class. Do you project Andersson as a top pairing d-man? Because most scouts seem to believe there's 2-3 defensemen this year with top pairing potential.

Button has said the top d-men this draft remind him of John Carlson, Ryan McDonagh, Vlasic types. He calls Juolevi a potential 1/2 dman

Benning has said there are a couple dmen that could be good #2s. Worth noting that he believes there are only 8-10 true #1 defensemen in the entire NHL. So a good #2 defenseman for him is likely a top 40 defenseman in the NHL.

Here's the Draft Analyst on Chychrun, "Chychrun is the best of the three in our view, and passing up on him denies the Oilers of a possible franchise defenseman/Norris type". He compared the top 3 dmen of this year favorably to the top 3 dmen of last year. I'd be pretty happy with a Hanifin, Provorov or Werenski type at #6 this year.

Redline a few months ago had Chychrun in their elite 2nd grouping after Matthews/Laine along with Puljujarvi and Tkachuk but he's since fallen a bit in their rankings.

There are 3 defensemen who despite having a wide variance on their rankings are ranked top 10 in a draft that has a strong top 20.

So in summary, if we have our pick of the defensemen at #6 there should be a defenseman available who has a greater upside than Rasmus Andersson.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by jmac98

I understand the point of the exercise is to choose one if you had to. But that's a hypothetical that just isn't a reality for anyone, and for Calgary it's not a position of need heading into the draft. The thread should almost be "who's the best D available in the draft", because really, that's all you're asking.

As it pertains to Calgary, they should go with a forward at 6, BPA based on who's on the board and/or however draft day pans out come there turn. In regards to a D, I think Calgary should target Sean Day should he be available organically at around the 3rd round where I think he's currently slotted, or, take a flier on him and use that late Dallas 2nd.

Well I think that's why I called this a scenario.

It's a good way to get people's feeling on the defensemen available which is interesting to me.

Another Calgary takes a forward topic would be pretty much redundant.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

So you think we got a top 10 pick last year in Andersson? I dunno about that. Andersson is a good prospect but it seems like either we're overrating him or underrating this defense class. Do you project Andersson as a top pairing d-man? Because most scouts seem to believe there's 2-3 defensemen this year with top pairing potential.

So in summary, if we have our pick of the defensemen at #6 there should be a defenseman available who has a greater upside than Rasmus Andersson.

Plus a good deal of the Rasmus Andersson story has been written since last June.

He was a guy that some had higher (late first round), that Calgary got lower than they expected.

But then he lit up the Flames prospect camp, had a stellar OHL year including playoffs, and may have figured out some of his fitness issues.

There's no doubt that he's become a better prospect than 53rd overall, but that's not development and not drafting.

Or ... yeah I agree.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by jmac98

I understand the point of the exercise is to choose one if you had to. But that's a hypothetical that just isn't a reality for anyone, and for Calgary it's not a position of need heading into the draft.

Flames don't draft by need. They look to take the best player and best future asset available. That very well may be a defenseman this year. To rule it out would be shortsighted.

NSH didn't need d-men when they drafted Ryan Ellis. They didn't need d-men when they drafted Seth Jones. But having a new young top 4 every couple of years has allowed them to shrug off the losses of Timonen and Suter with ease and allowed them to deal Jones for a #1 centre.

Defense is the most important position in the NHL after goaltending. Brian Burke believes that and so do I. I suspect Treliving who is a former defenseman is also on board with that philosophy. Defense is also arguably one of the most valuable positions in hockey in terms of trade value.

To overlook the defensemen this draft class simply because we don't need one would be foolish and the Flames won't be.

[Lanny_McDonald]

@flamesdraftwatcher

Is it possible that maybe the defensemen in this class just aren't that good? I'll say it. I don't think any of these three are as good as Andersson. That is not saying that Andersson is a top pair defenseman in the future, that is just stating that the guys in this draft just aren't as good as Andersson. They are all a step down from Andersson IMO, and it was evident in their play this year. If these guys had that tops line potential they should have outplayed Mr. Andersson, which I don't think they did. I think this is just a bad class for defensemen. Sadly, there just isn't a high end player there.

[jmac98]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Flames don't draft by need. They look to take the best player and best future asset available. That very well may be a defenseman this year. To rule it out would be shortsighted.

NSH didn't need d-men when they drafted Ryan Ellis. They didn't need d-men when they drafted Seth Jones. But having a new young top 4 every couple of years has allowed them to shrug off the losses of Timonen and Suter with ease and allowed them to deal Jones for a #1 centre.

Defense is the most important position in the NHL after goaltending. Brian Burke believes that and so do I. I suspect Treliving who is a former defenseman is also on board with that philosophy. Defense is also arguably one of the most valuable positions in hockey in terms of trade value.

To overlook the defensemen this draft class simply because we don't need one would be foolish and the Flames won't be.

Yes, I understand. But I don't believe any of the D are considered 'better' than the forwards in the same grouping or 'ledge' or whatever its called. So if they're all within the same spectrum of perceived talent, you then consider more intricate details within the 'BPA' concept. This pole in itself pretty much shows 3 D are good but none are a runaway by perception. And I believe scouting ranks are all over the map as well by them. So it basically reaffirms what most say in that there's a ledge at 3, then 8, or whatever they all cut it off at.